DEPARTMENT OF
INFRASTRUCTURE, PLANNING AND LOGISTICS
Northern Territory
2016 Road Injury Statistical Summary
Overview

Road fatalities in the Northern Territory are highly variable and unpredictable. Trend
data provides a truer representation of road fatalities and serious injuries in the
Northern Territory than annual comparisons.

In 2016 there were 45 road fatalities. This compares to 49 in 2015 and the ten year
average (2007-2016) of 48 people.

Fatal crash data is extracted from Northern Territory Police crash reports and is
updated as further information becomes available.
Statistical Data
2016 Annual Statistics

Of the 45 fatalities in 2016:
35 (78%) were vehicle occupants;
6 (13%) were pedestrians;
4 (9%) were motorcyclists.
Of these:
9 (20%) were under the age of 25 years;
34 (76%) were male;
23 (51%) were Indigenous;
6 (13%) were international or interstate visitors; and
34 (76%) were in rural areas.

Causal and compounding factors sourced from the Department of Infrastructure,
Planning and Logistics’ Vehicle Accident Database state:
-
4 (9%) of the crashes involved alcohol; (Note: This number is underestimated as alcohol
involvement is yet to be confirmed for the 2016 crashes)
-
7 (16%) were speed related;
13 (29%) of the 32 vehicle occupants were not wearing a seatbelt; and
7 (16%) were known to be fatigue related (Note: This is difficult to determine).
For more information visit www.nt.gov.au
10 year road injury trend data summary (2007-2016)

Over the last 10 years (2007-2016) 476 people have died and 5242* have been
seriously injured on Territory roads. *(Note: This number will increase due to a lag in data processing.)

On average, over the last 10 years:
-
48 people died each year (almost one person per week); and
542 people were seriously injured each year, requiring hospitalisation. (Based on
2006 – 2015 data).

Of the 476 road fatalities on NT roads:
-

331 (70%) were occupants of vehicles;
94 (20%) were pedestrians;
47 (10%) were motorcyclists;
4 (1%) were cyclists;
340 (71%) were male;
237 (50%) were Indigenous;
400 (84%) were Territory residents and 75 (16%) were from interstate or overseas;
130 (27%) under the age of 25 years; and
338 (71%) occurred in rural areas.
Causal and compounding factors sourced from the Department of Infrastructure,
Planning and Logistics’ Vehicle Accident Database state: (Note: Each fatality could have more
than one factor)
-
182 (38%) were alcohol related; (Note: This number is underestimated as alcohol involvement is yet to
be confirmed for the 2016 crashes)
-
133 (40%) of the 331 drivers and passengers killed were not wearing a seatbelt;
118 (28%) were known to be speed related, (Note: Vehicle speed influences all crashes);
32 (7%) were known to be fatigue related, (Note: This factor is difficult to conclude.)
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
Total
Fatals
56
75
31
50
45
49
37
39
49
45
475
Serious Injuries
562
638
518
512
500
537
563
531
530
351*
4242*
* This number will increase due to a lag in data processing.
Data current as at 10 May 2017
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